Paper Airplane Fun and Learning for Kids

Outside play activities do not need to be elaborate to be fun for kids and they don’t need lots of equipment, either. What could be simpler than a paper airplane?

Today, I heard about a major airport that had a paper airplane contest. Did you know that many kids don’t know how to fold paper to make a flyer? We just kind of assume that kids know how to do this, but it’s almost becoming a lost art. Here are some pictures, instructions and a video:

1. Fold an ordinary piece of printer paper in half, the long way or hotdog fold. Open it back up.

2. Fold the top outside corner down so it touches the center line and do the same for the other side.

3. Do the same action again of folding each side to the middle. It sort of looks like a skinny mountain, the kind that kids draw.

4. Fold the two sides together. Now it looks like the wedge that goes under a door to hold it open.

5. Hold the point with one hand, and with the other bend that folded edge over to line up with the center fold. This part is a bit trickier.

6. Flip over and do the same for the other side.

7. Pinch on the bottom center fold and the wings open up. This kind is called a dart and it’s ready to fly. Flying planes outside is better than flying them in the house.

The airport had an aerospace technology instructor and students on hand to show kids different flying models and tips. It was a popular event, with a $1,000 first prize donated by a travel company. With that kind of prize, it’s no wonder hundreds of kids came out to fly their creations. But the prize was probably to entice parents to bring the kids. They kids came for the fun and learning and now, many backyards and neighborhoods will be turned into mini-airports. Isn’t this a great idea for getting kids outside to play? Ready, set and takeoff…

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